Thomas Jefferson Picture Essay

Thomas Jefferson Essay on Freedom of Religion is an excerpt from an essay I wrote for colonial history at UNCA

Thomas Jefferson spoke out against the established Anglican Church in Virginia by drawing from the writings of John Locke as well as the example set forth by William Penn in Pennsylvania In doing so, Jefferson noted that religious liberty had a direct correlation with all other liberties thereby necessitating the protection of religious liberty. Jefferson proposed that the only way to establish religious liberty was by separation of Church and State. By reiterating the views of both Voltaire and Locke, Jefferson was able to convince the legislature of Virginia of the necessity of separation of Church and State. Later using the same tactics, Jefferson was able to convince the legislature of the newly established United States of the necessity of religious liberty for the entire country. Jefferson stressed Locke’s reasoning quote The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god end quote. Jefferson added that limiting religion would only cover up the present corruptions encouraging even greater corruption. In defending his opinion on separation of church and State, Jefferson noted quote Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? Fallible men; men governed by bad passions, by private as well as public reasons. And why subject it to coercion? To produce uniformity, But is uniformity of opinion desirable? end quote

Letters written to the Massachusetts Spy outlined the basic position held by Americans concerning religious toleration most heartedly agreed with Jefferson and Madison. One such article stated, quote In a well regulated state, it will be the business of the legislature to prevent sectaries of different denominations from molesting and disturbing each other; to ordain that no part of the community shall be permitted to perplex and harass the other for any supposed heresy. end of quote

Overview of Religion in Colonial Virginia

In Colonial Virginia, the established Anglican Church ran into the same problems of Colonial North Carolina. The distances between Parishes made it impossible to enforce Church attendance and collect tithes. There were few trained Clergy in Colonial Virginia to maintain a Church. Often there was one clergyman assigned to several parishes. When the Colonial Virginia legislature tried to impose a tax to support Christian teachers, James Madison passionately oppose the proposed bill in his speech Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessment, addressed to the Virginia legislature 1785. "We maintain that in matters of religion, no man's right is abridged by the institution of civil society.

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